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Geode Fest to attract rockhounds from 11 states to Hamilton location
By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer
HAMILTON, Ill. - Several hundred people from more than 11 states will converge on Geode Fest 2008 Friday through Sunday at the Montebello Access Area in Hamilton, Ill.
The Worthen Earth Searchers Club of Hancock County, Ill., is holding the event during the Hamilton River Drive, also this weekend.
The event will take place rain or shine.
“These rockhounds are die-hards,” said club President Mike Shumate of the rural Hamilton-Nauvoo, Ill., area. “Usually 95 percent of the people are returns and bring a few more people with them. The kids have fun.”
Last year, 437 rockhounds flocked to Geode Fest and searched for the geodes unique to the Tri-State Area. This year, people are registered from Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska and Colorado.
Last year a woman came for the first time from Americus, Ga., and is returning this year with eight more people.
“Having geodes actually is a rare asset,” Shumate said. “They are real antiques, 300 million to 500 million years old. This is the only place in the world where these are found. These are sedimentary geodes and all the others are volcanic.”
The local geodes are hollow, round rocks usually filled with clear or white quartz crystals covered by a thin outer shell of rock. The crystals, which sometimes are found in a variety of colors depending upon the types of minerals within, are exposed when the shell is broken.
Keokuk geodes have been known to contain 17 minerals in addition to quartz.
Geodes come in small or large and every size in between. The largest can be 30 inches in diameter and the smallest can be made into earrings.
Eight sites have been designated as hunting grounds this year: St. Francisville, Mo.; the Fox River in Canton, Mo.; and properties in Illinois owned by Gary Jacobs, Vernon Gray, Denny Stevenson, Larry Evans, the Great River Golf Course and George Newman. No sites have been made available in Iowa.
Hunts will take place all three days: from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday.
Check-in time is anytime after 7 a.m.
People will be available to answer questions as rockhounds begin to see just what they have found. Last year, someone found a “dew drop” geode that was recognized and identified by one of the experts.
“A dew drop geode has a layer of crystal hanging over the basic layer of crystal and looks like dew,” Shumate said. “They are very rare.”
Several hydraulic geode crackers will be available at the show: one from Nebraska, two from Kansas and one from Hamilton. Two smaller chain crackers also will be on hand.
In addition to geode hunting, Montebello Access will be the site of displays by the Tri-State Woodcarvers and flintknappers from Augusta, Ill., Hannibal, Mo., and the Quad Cities.
Flintknappers recreate the making of arrowhoods, knives and basic equipment Native Americans used in their daily lives.
Other booths will include all types of geodes including rare geodes, geode hunting equipment such as rock hammers, polishers and other tools.
The Geode Fest impacts area motels, campgrounds, restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations.
Vendors, nearby restaurants and grocery stores are handy for meals.
Eagle Days will take place at Hamilton's new community center and bird observing will be included in the activities at Montebello Access.
“This brings a lot of money into the community,” Shumate said. “And the club will use the proceeds to make earth-science kits for Tri-State Area schools.
“I can't tell you how helpful Mayor Steve Woodruff has been getting this set up,” he added.
Geode hunting fees are $20 per person or $30 per family. Property owners are paid $16 per five-gallon bucket of geodes for allowing the hunt on their land. Shumate said some landowners make several thousand dollars, averaging $1,000 each year.
Contact www.geodefest.com or www.firstcrackgeodes.com or call Shumate at 573-518-4739 for more information.
Hamilton River Drive Days also includes:
The Frisbee Golf Tourney - 8 a.m., Saturday registration at Wildcat Springs Park; 9:30 a.m., team meeting at Wildcat; 10 a.m., tee time at Wildcat and Gordon's Grove City Park. Food will be available.
Cruise night - 5:30 p.m. Saturday on Broadway between Ninth and Tenth streets. Food will be available, including cheeseburgers, hot dogs, fries and root beer floats.
Citywide yard sales Friday and Saturday.
The Worthen Earth Searchers Club of Hancock County, Ill., is holding the event during the Hamilton River Drive, also this weekend.
The event will take place rain or shine.
“These rockhounds are die-hards,” said club President Mike Shumate of the rural Hamilton-Nauvoo, Ill., area. “Usually 95 percent of the people are returns and bring a few more people with them. The kids have fun.”
Last year, 437 rockhounds flocked to Geode Fest and searched for the geodes unique to the Tri-State Area. This year, people are registered from Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska and Colorado.
Last year a woman came for the first time from Americus, Ga., and is returning this year with eight more people.
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The local geodes are hollow, round rocks usually filled with clear or white quartz crystals covered by a thin outer shell of rock. The crystals, which sometimes are found in a variety of colors depending upon the types of minerals within, are exposed when the shell is broken.
Keokuk geodes have been known to contain 17 minerals in addition to quartz.
Geodes come in small or large and every size in between. The largest can be 30 inches in diameter and the smallest can be made into earrings.
Eight sites have been designated as hunting grounds this year: St. Francisville, Mo.; the Fox River in Canton, Mo.; and properties in Illinois owned by Gary Jacobs, Vernon Gray, Denny Stevenson, Larry Evans, the Great River Golf Course and George Newman. No sites have been made available in Iowa.
Hunts will take place all three days: from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday.
Check-in time is anytime after 7 a.m.
People will be available to answer questions as rockhounds begin to see just what they have found. Last year, someone found a “dew drop” geode that was recognized and identified by one of the experts.
“A dew drop geode has a layer of crystal hanging over the basic layer of crystal and looks like dew,” Shumate said. “They are very rare.”
Several hydraulic geode crackers will be available at the show: one from Nebraska, two from Kansas and one from Hamilton. Two smaller chain crackers also will be on hand.
In addition to geode hunting, Montebello Access will be the site of displays by the Tri-State Woodcarvers and flintknappers from Augusta, Ill., Hannibal, Mo., and the Quad Cities.
Flintknappers recreate the making of arrowhoods, knives and basic equipment Native Americans used in their daily lives.
Other booths will include all types of geodes including rare geodes, geode hunting equipment such as rock hammers, polishers and other tools.
The Geode Fest impacts area motels, campgrounds, restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations.
Vendors, nearby restaurants and grocery stores are handy for meals.
Eagle Days will take place at Hamilton's new community center and bird observing will be included in the activities at Montebello Access.
“This brings a lot of money into the community,” Shumate said. “And the club will use the proceeds to make earth-science kits for Tri-State Area schools.
“I can't tell you how helpful Mayor Steve Woodruff has been getting this set up,” he added.
Geode hunting fees are $20 per person or $30 per family. Property owners are paid $16 per five-gallon bucket of geodes for allowing the hunt on their land. Shumate said some landowners make several thousand dollars, averaging $1,000 each year.
Contact www.geodefest.com or www.firstcrackgeodes.com or call Shumate at 573-518-4739 for more information.
Hamilton River Drive Days also includes:
The Frisbee Golf Tourney - 8 a.m., Saturday registration at Wildcat Springs Park; 9:30 a.m., team meeting at Wildcat; 10 a.m., tee time at Wildcat and Gordon's Grove City Park. Food will be available.
Cruise night - 5:30 p.m. Saturday on Broadway between Ninth and Tenth streets. Food will be available, including cheeseburgers, hot dogs, fries and root beer floats.
Citywide yard sales Friday and Saturday.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of dailygate.com.
SaddenintheTriStates wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:22 AM:
" In 20 yrs, it will be very sad when geodes are hard to find in this area because short sighted people sold them all off. Even though it looks like their numbers are infinite now, I'me sure there will came a day when they are not. Enjoy the money that you get now because you are selling off the rights for our grandkids to find the geode. "
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Mark wrote on Sep 25, 2008 7:33 AM:
GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE HUNTERS>>>>> I WISH I COULD PARTICIPATE BUT I HUNTED LAST WEEK>
TAKE CARE AND WEAR SAFETY GLASSES WHEN CRACKING GEODES. "